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Give the gift of life this Valentine’s Day, says Harefield Hospital patient

12 February 2018

A Harefield Hospital transplant patient is taking part in a ground-breaking national campaign to raise awareness of organ donation this Valentine’s Day.

Artist Kimberly Chard, who has cystic fibrosis and underwent a double lung transplant at the hospital in 2015, teamed up with NHS Blood and Transplant to design a special Valentine’s card to help people encourage their loved ones to join the organ donor register.

Thought to be the first partnership of its kind in the UK, the free cards are being distributed by the leading online card and gifts retailer Moonpig.

Each card contains facts and statistics on organ donation, and an NHS Organ Donor Card, with a few simple steps on how to register.

The joint campaign also aims to raise awareness of the 6,400 people in the UK who are currently awaiting a donor organ.

34-year-old Kimberly, from Bargoed in Wales, who last year donated a one-off artwork to Harefield Hospital as a thank you for her ongoing care, explained why it was important to her to get involved with the campaign.

She said: “During my journey with cystic fibrosis and my double lung transplant, art has been my therapy – a way to work through my worries and share my work.

“It’s important to let your loved ones know your choice so that if the worst was to happen, then at least the hard decision is made already at a traumatic time.

“What better way to raise awareness of organ donation and the lives it can save than at Valentine’s? You are able to pledge to give your heart in life, and when you are gone.”

James Sturrock, Managing Director at Moonpig said: “Pledging your heart to a complete stranger isn’t an obvious conversation to have with your Valentine, but it’s one that could make a real difference. The free cards are designed to help couples across the country say what they really want this Valentine’s Day.”

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant director of organ donation and transplantation said: “We’d love people to send their partners a thought provoking card and tell them they want to save lives through organ donation.

“A Valentine’s Day card can make someone’s day and this year it could lead to the most wonderful gift, the gift of life. A few words now can make an extraordinary difference.”

To order a card, simply moonpig.com before 14 February. The cards are free, but there is a small 65p postage and packing fee, which Moonpig will donate to Transplant Sport, a national charity that drives awareness of organ donation and promotes active recovery for transplant patients.